Magnetic reconnection detonation in supernova remnants

TL;DR

This paper introduces a magnetic reconnection detonation model to explain the expansion dynamics and high-energy radiation of supernova remnants, exemplified by the Crab Nebula, highlighting a novel mechanism for energy transfer and particle acceleration.

Contribution

It proposes a magnetic reconnection detonation framework for SNR expansion, providing a new explanation for observed expansion and radiation features beyond traditional shock wave models.

Findings

The MRD model explains the accelerative expansion of the Crab Nebula.

The model accounts for high-energy radiation via magnetic reconnection.

It offers a unified view of SNR dynamics and energetic phenomena.

Abstract

As a key process that refreshes the interstellar medium, the dynamics and radiative properties of the supernova remnant (SNR) expansion front not only reflect the physical environment of the old interstellar medium (ISM) surrounding the supernova, but they also provide information about the refreshed ISM. However the expansion dynamics of SNRs cannot be simply explained by the conventional law of spherical shock wave propagation; on the other hand, the high energy radiation requires an additional electron acceleration mechanism in the shock front beyond thermal collision. We consider herein the detonation wave description of the SNR expansion, in which magnetic reconnection follows the shock front and transfers the SNR magnetic field energy to both fluid thermal energy and particle kinetic energy. The structure of the magnetic reconnection detonation (MRD) is identified based on scaling analysis in this paper. By applying the MRD description of the SNR expansion shock to the example of the Crab Nebula, this paper shows that the MRD description can explain both the accelerative expansion of the nebula as well as the origin of the luminous expanding shell.